Tissue culture isolation of lyssa viruses from apparently healthy unvaccinated dogs in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

There have been previous reports of inapparent infection and intermittent secretion of rabies virus in the saliva of apparently healthy dogs in some African countries, including Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

The study was therefore aimed at examining the carrier status of rabies in apparently healthy Nigerian dogs in the settlement areas studied.

METHODS

Ninety-two swabs samples from oral mucosae of domestic dogs (mongrels) without vaccination history were assayed for lyssaviruses by tissue culture isolation test in Vero cells.

RESULTS

Rabies or rabies-related viruses were recovered from eighteen, representing 19.6% of the samples. The study showed that lyssaviruses were present in 4 out of the 6 settlements of the study areas. Among the areas where the viruses were present, the rate of isolation ranged from 11.1% to 66.7%. Female dogs had a little higher infection rate (12.0%) than their male counterparts (7.6%). Among age groups, the highest rate of infection (66.7%) was detected in dogs aged one to 3 years while the rate of 3.7% was found in dogs aged less than one year.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study agree with the carrier state of rabies in domestic dogs, the common reservoir hosts of its etiologic agents in Nigeria and the rest of Africa andAsia; this is a serious threat to humans in these settlements. Although the load of infective virus in saliva is lower than that in brain, saliva collection for rabies diagnosis is simple, safer, faster and cheaper. Thus we suggest that saliva samples could be used as an alternative to brain specimens for rabies virus antigen testing in dogs, especially, when it is not practicable to obtain brain specimen.

Characterisation of mycoplasmas isolated from genital tract infections of sheep in Nigeria

Four mycoplasma-like organisms isolated from ewes with mucopurulent vaginal discharge and swollen vulva were characterised. Biochemical tests showed three of the isolates to be negative for glucose fermentation and arginine hydrolysis, while the remaining isolate was negative for glucose fermentation but hydrolysed arginine. Serological identification using the growth inhibition, growth precipitation and indirect immunofluorescence tests indicated the three similar isolates as Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and the other isolate as Mycoplasma arginini. There are apparently no previous reports of the isolation of these organisms from the genital tract of sheep in Nigeria.

Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxaemia in pigs: a report of five cases

Enterotoxaemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in five intensively managed pigs is reported. The condition was precipitated by constipative digestive disturbance. Diarrhoea was not observed in the five animals before death.

An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infection associated with calcium oxalate urolithiasis in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infection occurred in a colony of 800 Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs resulting in 364 (46%) deaths involving breeders, sucklings, weaners, but mainly adults used as a source of blood meals for haematophagus flies (Glossina palpalis). Clinical signs included bleeding from the nose, mouth and vagina before death. Necropsy revealed pneumonia with consolidation of one or both lungs, haemopericardium and haemothorax. There were yellowish-grey deposits in the urinary bladder of more than 50% of both affected breeders and adults used for feeding haematophagus flies. Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated in pure culture from many tissues including the urinary bladder. The survivors were treated with oxytetracycline (Terramycin-LA; Pfizer) using the intra-muscular route and the response was good.

Uterine involvement in guineapig salmonellosis

Of 334 mature breeding guineapigs, 53 (15.9%) died in a disease outbreak involving Salmonella typhimurium serotypes 1, 4, 5 and 12 : i : 1,2. The uterus was consistently involved. Nine other Salmonella-free mature female guineapigs when inoculated with a pure isolate from the outbreak, using the subcutaneous, intramuscular or per os route, succumbed to salmonellosis, reproducing signs and lesions observed during the outbreak. Abortion was not recorded during the outbreak despite many pregnant sows being affected. The isolate was sensitive to gentamicin, tetracycline, ampicillin and cefuroxime but resistant to co-trimoxazole, erythromycin and penicillin.

Double intussusception fatally complicated by clostridial infection in a dog (a case report)

A 10-month-old Alsation dog with history of anorexia, diarrhoea, dehydration and vomition developed a double intussusception which affected the distal jejunum and proximal ileum. Necropsy revealed the intussusception to be swollen and congested with fibrinous adhesions between the intussusceptum and intussuscepiens. Two pieces of bone believed to be the inciting cause were found within the intussusceptum. Clostridium welchii and Clostridium bifermentans were isolated from the lesions.